Elektragaaz dropped their third EP, “The Synaesthetic Picture Show Now Playing, Pt. 3,” on September 14th, following Parts 1 and 2 released earlier in 2021. Started by a young Frisian composer known as Poppo Redband, the group is mainly made up of musicians from the New York Metro area. This third installment in the project is amazing and immersive. It’s essentially modern Classical music, with bits of influence from many different genres. And much like traditional Classical music, it has a story to tell with each song.
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Elektragaaz starts off “Part 3” with “Dancing With Evil Intent,” a jazzy and ominous sounding song. It’s exciting and dark and moody, making you feel like you’re being set up for something. The piano, guitar, and strings work together to get your heart racing as if you’ve been dropped into a dramatic movie where you’re in imminent danger. The next track that really popped out was on the EP, “To Air Is Human.” It has a strange energy about it, but that made me want to listen to it more. The strings captured a certain anxiety, but that tension seemed to be released by the end of the song. It almost felt like boss fight music in a video game at moments. It also had a pretty great guitar solo, which always helps.
The final song on “The Synaesthetic Picture Show Now Playing, Pt. 3,” “The Ghost of Ozymandias,” has an awesome trippy rock vibe to it. The lead guitar is incredible and it has this impressive epic feeling to it. I suppose the ghost of a pharaoh would be pretty epic. It does have this slight tinge of Ancient Egypt to it, although it doesn’t stray far from it’s rock sound. The song brings that dark note from the beginning back into the mix, making it feel like a full circle; there and back again. Journeys and trips seem to be a theme for Elektragaaz, especially in “Part 3.” And to be fair, you might find yourself wanting to restart the journey as soon as it ends. It’s just so wonderfully put together and fun to listen to, and follows up Parts 1 and 2 effortlessly.
APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-synaesthetic-picture-show-now-playing-pt-3-ep/1577128910
Elektragaaz and Redband have created an eclectic and unique sound, and even if it’s not something you’re normally into, you should give it a shot. The way this band is able to tell stories and evoke images without saying a word is something to be admired. I feel like they’ve somehow revived a long lost art and breathed new life into it. I can’t wait to see what they come up with in the future. Allegedly, there might be some sort of video game in the far distance, as Redband as a rough outline for a game called also Elektragaaz, where a band of superheroes use their musical weapons of mass destruction to save the City of Music. But for now, we just have their music to listen to, and that is more than enough.
Rachel Townsend